Student Support

We can advise you on local health and wellbeing services, and can refer you to a range of expert professional services when needed.
If you are worried about your health or wellbeing, or that of a friend, we will always try to help.

Our advice is impartial and there to help you make your own decisions, and if we can’t help we’ll always look to refer you to people or organisations that can.

You are encouraged to register with a local NHS GP/Doctors surgery. You can find your nearest GP surgery to your term-time address by visiting the NHS website.

You can also report to us any incidents in which you are involved, either here at the School or anywhere else. We all share a responsibility to create and maintain a safe, inclusive and welcoming culture at the NFTS. Students and staff have the right to study, work and socialise in a safe community. The School commits to thoroughly investigating all reports of inappropriate behaviour and conduct, and will implement recommendations and actions in line with the Student Misconduct Policy and Staff Disciplinary Policy. If you’ve experienced or seen any behaviour that you find unacceptable, support is available to you at the School.

The NFTS recognises that incidents of sexual violence and misconduct may take place within the School community and can be experienced by any individuals, regardless of their identity.

The NFTS is committed to promoting a culture in which incidents of sexual violence or misconduct will not be tolerated. All members of the School community are expected to take an active role in ensuring that all interpersonal relationships and interactions are underpinned by mutual respect, open communication and clear consent.

Incidents of sexual violence and misconduct that are reported to the School will be addressed thoroughly to ensure the preservation of a safe work and study environment for all.

Students can report any incidents to Student Wellbeing or anonymously or with contact details through Report It. To make a report and for further information and sources of support please visit: Report It.

Contact swellbeing@nfts.co.uk 

For urgent support outside the office hours of 9am-4pm, please see below:

Crisis support and helplines

If you or someone you know is in mental health crisis and needs medical help fast:

• Ring 999 to contact emergency services
• Go to your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department 
  Nearest A&E to Beaconsfield is Wexham Park Hospital.
  Address is Wexham Park, Slough, Berkshire, SL2 4HL. Telephone 0300 6145000
  To search for your nearest A&E visit the NHS website and enter your location.

If it is not a medical emergency, but you still need urgent help:

• Ring 111 for professional health advice 24/7 and 365 days a year and guidance on where to access appropriate health services
• Make an appointment with your GP 

External Support

If your situation is not as urgent as above and you would like to speak to someone anonymously then you should consider contacting one of the following:

• The Samaritans Freephone 116 123 (Daily; 24 hours a day). Web: https://samaritans.org. Confidential emotional support to anyone who is suicidal or despairing  
• Papyrus HOPEline UK (Suicide prevention charity) – 0800 068 4141. Text: 07786209697. Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org (service is available from 9am- midnight every day). If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for someone else, you can contact this helpline for confidential support and practical advice.
• Mind (Mental health charity) - Call 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 (service is available from Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm). Provides information on types of mental health issues, where to get help, medication and alternative treatments and advocacy.
• Film + TV Charity helpline - 0800 054 0000 (24 hour support line).Can provide advice about legal queries, mental health and wellbeing, financial troubles, family issues, bullying and discrimination, or your hopes and ambition.
• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM - specialise in supporting men) - 0808 802 58 58 (London) or 0800 58 58 58 (Nationwide) (service is available from 5pm-midnight 365 days a year). A charity dedicated to preventing male suicide. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for someone else, you can contact this helpline for confidential support and practical advice.
• Sexual Assault Referral Unit: 0800 970 9952 or message via website https://www.solacesarc.org.uk. Nearest local agency is Solace SARC, Slough, Upton Hospital, Church Street, Slough, SL1 2BJ.

The National Film and Television School is committed to supporting the health (including mental health) and wellbeing of every member of the School community. As well as meeting the needs of children and adults at risk, we consider safeguarding in its broadest term as covering the general welfare of our community. 

The School’s duty of care includes the responsibility to act if there is a cause for concern about the safety of children and adults at risk and to notify the appropriate agencies so that they can investigate and take any action required.

Most issues of concern can be supported by our student wellbeing team, and we have a wide range of support available to students. You can find out more about that here, on this page.

Students Issues that may fall directly under Safeguarding regulations, relating to children and/or adults at risk, should be reported via our Report It website or to Student Wellbeing - so that these can be followed up appropriately. The Registrar is the School’s Designated Safeguarding Officer.

More information and guidance about safeguarding can be found in the School’s Safeguarding Policy.

The School has a number of general student welfare policies which can be found in the Policies section on our website including our Mental Health Policy, Bullying, Harassment, Racism and Sexual Misconduct Policy, and our Fitness to Study Policy. 

You can also find out information about how to report any safeguarding concerns directly to Bucks County Council on their safeguarding website.

For additional information and advice on safeguarding please contact:
Designated Safeguarding Officer at Ewheal@nfts.co.uk  
For all other general enquires please contact Info@nfts.co.uk 
For urgent serious welfare issues please contact Security on Tel: 01494 731400

The School will not tolerate any form of harassment, bullying or sexual misconduct and is committed to ensuring that staff and students can work and study without fear of harassment, bullying or sexual misconduct, recognising its duty of care to staff, students and visitors under health and safety, equality and employment legislation.

Please see the School’s single comprehensive source of information for the NFTS' policies and procedures relating to incidents of harassment and sexual misconduct.

Via our links with local landlords and letting agencies, we can provide assistance finding accommodation in the local area(s) surrounding the School. We recommend looking in Beaconsfield and High Wycombe. Some students choose to live in London and commute in each day which is also an option, but you do need to take travel time and increased costs into consideration. 

When applicants are offered a place on their chosen course, they are given access to a private accommodation page on Facebook which is a platform to view accommodation listings, advertise accommodation and make contact with other students at the NFTS.

We recommend thoroughly researching your accommodation. Please refer to the pdf documents below to help guide you through this process:

• Rental Checklist
• Tenancy Agreements
• International Rent Guide
• Council Tax

The amounts provided in the table are only a guide to students in planning their expenditure throughout their studies. They should not be used as a fixed or absolute statement of costs. If you are an international student and require a student VISA to study in the UK, you will also have to comply with the minimum funds required in order to issue your CAS (Confirmation of Assignment) as set out in your CAS email. 

*For those living in High Wycombe, you would expect the rent to be slightly lower compared to Beaconsfield and London. Students living in London would expect the rental and transport costs to be higher. 

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT

Requirements and information on applying for a student visa as an international student is available on our Students from abroad webpage.

We also provide support for our American students on MFA courses who wish to apply for the US Federal Loan. You can find out more about the process of this loan on our American Students page. Loan amounts are set out annually rather than monthly. 

We are on-hand to provide you with advice and recommend avenues of research for funding. The NFTS runs frequent financial surgeries for students to speak confidentially to our Student Wellbeing and Finance team. They can also offer advice on budgeting and money management. More information on this is provided once you are an enrolled NFTS student.

Please also refer to our student funding page for more information on funding, scholarships and student loans. 

Alongside the Student Union, the student support team promote health and wellbeing activities. In the past these have included wellbeing week, yoga, mindfulness, craft workshops, organised local walks and a large range of sporting activities. Details of activities are made available to enrolled students via our WorkVivo platform and notice boards around site.

An alternative space for students to voice their views, concerns and ideas. The Students’ Union comprises of three Students’ Union reps and a Students’ Union President. The Students’ Union is advisory but on hand to provide support and help guide you through your time at the NFTS. They are also there for implementing and planning student groups, activities and social events throughout the year.

Find out more on our Students' Union page.

If you’re a care leaver and applying to study, or already studying at NFTS, you’ll find plenty of support here to help you get the most out of your time. We understand the challenges you face, and we’ll support you from before your application right through to graduation, to help you make the most of your potential.

There’s lots of support you can call on:

1. An NFTS Bursary to cover the annual tuition fee
2. An additional Bursary to help cover living costs
3. Help with your Bursary application
4. Expenses paid for interview days, and/or open days
5. Priority for other financial support
6. E-Mentors
7. Special activities and events designed for care leavers
8. A single point of contact both pre-entry and during your time at NFTS

Help when you apply

The Registry team can help you through your application. We can give you advice on everything from filling in an application form through to interviews and preparing portfolios, including how to write your personal statement. 

Help with Accommodation

We can assist you with finding suitable accommodation either close to the School or in London. 

Care leaver bursary

If you’re a care leaver, we will offer you the total cost of your tuition fees each year to support you during your studies. We understand that you face additional challenges and we will do our best to support you at every stage of your studies.

In addition to the bursary we will offer you an additional amount to cover your living costs. Currently that bursary is £5,000.
To apply for this bursary, you can either disclose your status on your application or contact our Student Support and Wellbeing Team at swellbeing@nfts.co.uk 

Mentoring

We offer one-to-one mentoring support if you’re a care leaver. You can ask for a mentor and we’ll assign a staff member to be a mentor for the time you’re here. They’ll give you support, advice and advocacy and be your first point of contact for any questions you have.

Support services 

We offer lots of services and support to all our students, contact us to find out more. You can contact Student Support and Wellbeing via email at swellbeing@nfts.co.uk or via telephone on 01494 731 385
 

• If your certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you can purchase a replacement certificate. For Masters, these can only be provided if you received an award from January 2025 onwards.
• Students must complete a Declaration form. No replacement certificates will be printed unless this form has been completed.
• We are not able to produce a replacement certificate if your original is still within the postal system or within 6 months of your award date.
• If you have recently been awarded and have queries regarding your certificate, please email registry@nfts.co.uk
• For Masters awards prior to 2025, a scan of the original certificate can be provided alongside a transcript letter.
• Please be advised that these certificates can take up to 30 working days to produce. You will be contacted once your request has been processed and sent for onward dispatching. Certificates are sent via a standard (first-class) Royal Mail postal service.
• If your name has changed since you graduated your request and declaration must be accompanied by either a copy of a marriage certificate or a Deed Poll certificate.
• Replacements will bear the name of the graduate as they were known at the time of graduation. Names cannot be changed retrospectively (unless the name change is related to a gender reassignment).
• Replacement degrees cost £25.00 (including VAT, postage and packaging)

      TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Certificates produced by the School are proof of the conferment of an award and are a unique and valuable document which should be carefully preserved by its recipient.
• Under no circumstances will the School issue additional copies or duplicates to any applicant holding an original certificate.
• Duplicates have precisely the same standing as the original, which they replace, and are produced in the format currently in use by the School.
• The loss or destruction of a certificate is a serious matter and a duplicate will only be issued at the discretion of the School.
• The School reserves the right not to issue a duplicate or to specify reasons for its decision.
• If your original certificate is subsequently found, the duplicate must be returned to the School.
• The School will not produce more than one replacement certificate.